Did Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon Drive on 'Lipodiesel'?

There ought to be a law against using human fat to fuel automobiles, many might feel–and in fact, at least in California, there is.

Hence, the public health department there is investigating alleged use of “lipodiesel” by Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Craig Alan Bittner, according to Forbes.

Bittner’s claimed fuel-saving technique came to light after patients filed lawsuits contending that Bittner allowed his assistant and his girlfriend to perform surgeries without a medical license, the news magazine writes. “Attorney Andrew Besser, who represents three patients, says the assistant and girlfriend removed too much fat from clients and left them disfigured.”

Bittner reportedly discussed his use of “lipodiesel” on a website, lipodiesel.com, that has been taken down, recounts the London Times. “The vast majority of my patients request that I use their fat for fuel–and I have more fat than I can use,” he reportedly wrote on the now-former site.

In a letter posted on his clinic website, Bittner says he’s now doing volunteer work in South America.

“After 10 years in practice, I have treated over 40,000 patients, including almost 7,000 liposculpture patients. I am proud to be able to tell you that the record of my liposculpture practice has been impeccable; not one single serious complication or infection,” he writes.